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New federal law could force changes in York County emergency radio system

U.S. Rep. Todd Platts, R-York County, said county taxpayers would not foot the bill. County leaders weren't so sure.

By ED MAHON Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
07/12/2012 10:04:35 AM EDT

York, PA -

New federal law could require York County to make major changes to its almost 4-year-old emergency radio system, according to county leaders.

"It would mean that we have to forklift our entire radio system and build a new one," said Eric Bistline, executive director of the county's Department of Emergency Services.

Bistline said the county would have about a decade to replace the majority of its equipment for the radio system. And he estimates that would cost roughly $30 million.

But U.S. Rep. Todd Platts, R-York County, who voted in favor of the changes, said taxpayers and public safety agencies wouldn't be responsible for those costs of changing systems.

"To suggest that this is going to cost taxpayers of York County $30 million is just not an accurate reflection of what the law says," Platts said Wednesday evening.

The issue was decided back in February, when Congress also voted to extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits.

Gail A Karish, a California attorney who specializes in telecommunications issues for governments and municipal utilities, said part of the law created a framework for a new nationwide public safety broadband radio system.

Platts said that was a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission Report.

"It took longer than it should've" Platts said, but added, "in the long-term, this is an important advancement for public safety."

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Karish said municipalities all over the country are affected by the change.

Another part of the law, also requires that public safety entities abandon what's known as the T-Band spectrum, that some public safety organizations are currently using. Platts said the auctioning of those frequencies to commercial entities will help fund grants for public safety entities to cover costs they may incur because of the switch.

"They may have to incur significant ... expenses in upgrading," the system to be part of the nationwide network, Platts said. "But those costs are provided for in the law."

York County leaders said they didn't know how much money that bidding system will yield and if there will be enough to cover York County's possible expenses.

"I have no idea how that will play out," said York County Commissioner Doug Hoke.

Replacing the emergency radio system would be a significant expense for York County, which has a total budget for 2012 of $450.5 million, including a general fund of $178.5 million. Hoke criticized the mandate, saying it's "crazy ... that something like that would be forced upon a county."

President Commissioner Steve Chronister criticized the legislation early on Wednesday. But he said he received a phone message from Platts Wednesday evening, in which the congressman told him that the law provided for funding.

"If they don't provide it, it would be a terrible thing and a real setback for York County," Chronister said.

But Chronister said he was "hopeful."

Bistline said it's possible the federal requirements change before the county has to make any switches. But he said the county needs to be prepared.

"I don't want to be caught six, seven or eight years from now with no plan in place," Bistline said. "...We just have to kind of watch and keep ourselves educated."

About the York County 911 system

--Testing of York County's $36 million system - manufactured and installed by Harris Corp. (then known as M/A-COM) - began in early 2008, and York County's police departments switched to the system that fall.

--Several glitches occurred, including lost or garbled transmissions, prompting York County to ask the installer to send several technicians to the 911 center to work on the system. In spring 2009, the system endured two 30-day tests to pave the way for fire and EMS to switch over. Those agencies cut over to the new system in July 2009.

--Although fire officials reported good results in much of the county, problems were still reported in southwestern York County. Responders weren't hearing some radio transmissions, and digital pagers did not always work.

--Eric Bistline, executive director of the county's Department of Emergency Services, has said the system has improved a great deal since its implementation.

He said Wednesday that he doesn't think changing systems, as required by the new law, would improve reliability or coverage.